Journey · Door 03 · D8

The D8 journey

From NIF to residence card on remote income paid from outside Portugal.

Start D8, $1,490 See the map

BOCEAN IMMIGRATION PORTUGAL, LDA · NIPC 519043731 · Payments by Stripe

At a glance

What you get, who decides, what it costs

What you get: A 4-month entry visa, then a 2-year residence card renewable for 3 more years
Who decides: The Portuguese consulate in your country, then AIMA
Official timeframe: 4 to 8 months from kickoff. The authorities set the pace.
Reside fee: $1,490 flat. IFICI is $1,390 separately.
Left out: Consulate and AIMA fees, translations, insurance, apostilles and IFICI

01 · The map

Every step, and who acts in it

01
NIF and fiscal setup
Month 1. NIF, fiscal representation and power of attorney, needed before any consulate filing.
Reside
02
Bank account and income evidence
Weeks 1 to 5. A Portuguese bank account, and 3 or more months of statements showing the income.
You
03
Consulate dossier
Months 1 to 2. Employer letters or client contracts, statements, tax returns, criminal record, accommodation and insurance.
You
04
Visa issued
Months 2 to 4. The consulate issues the 4-month entry visa.
Authority
05
AIMA biometrics and card
Months 4 to 8. Biometrics in Portugal, about 30 minutes, then the 2-year card arrives by post.
Authority
06
IFICI, if you qualify
After the card. IFICI registration is filed after your AIMA card is issued.
Reside

The label shows who acts in that step: You, Reside or the Authority that decides. In your client area the same path shows as Details, Documents, Sign and Filed.

02 · The steps

Each step in detail

What happens, what you do, what we do, and what the authority does.

NIF and fiscal setup

Reside

What happens: The NIF, fiscal representation and the power of attorney come first, before any consulate filing. See the NIF journey.
Your part: Pay, sign the power of attorney, upload your passport and a proof of address.
Our part: We file the NIF and act as your fiscal representative for 1 year.
The authority: The tax authority issues the NIF.
In your client area: Details, Documents and Sign steps with Received and Signed stamps.

ReceivedSigned

Bank account and income evidence

You

What happens: You need a Portuguese bank account and evidence that your income arrives from outside Portugal and is above the threshold. We help you open the account with a partner bank, remotely.
Your part: Gather 3 or more months of bank statements, your employment contract or freelance contracts and recent tax returns.
Our part: We help open the account with a partner bank and review your contracts and income documents.
Documents: Statements, contracts, tax returns, proof of savings.
What can delay it: Fewer than 3 active client contracts for freelancers. Income from a Portuguese employer or Portuguese clients, which does not count.
In your client area: Each upload shows Received, then Checked or Needs a new file.

Consulate dossier

You

What happens: We build the dossier with employer letters or client contracts, bank statements, tax returns, a criminal record certificate with apostille, accommodation proof and health insurance. You submit it at the Portuguese consulate.
Your part: Attend the consulate appointment. Arrange accommodation proof and health insurance.
Our part: We prepare the dossier, review contracts and coordinate apostilles.
The authority: The Portuguese consulate in your country receives and examines the file.
What can delay it: A missing apostille or an income source that does not meet the test.
In your client area: The case moves to Filed when the dossier is submitted.

Filed

Visa issued

Authority

What happens: If the consulate approves the file, it issues the entry visa, valid for 4 months. You travel to Portugal.
Your part: Travel to Portugal.
Our part: We book your AIMA biometrics.
The authority: The consulate decides and issues the visa.
What can delay it: The consulate sets the pace.

AIMA biometrics and card

Authority

What happens: You attend AIMA for biometrics, about 30 minutes. AIMA reassesses your income at that appointment, using the minimum wage in force on that date. The 2-year card arrives by post.
Your part: Attend the appointment.
Our part: We book the appointment and prepare you for it.
The authority: AIMA takes biometrics, reassesses income and issues the card.
What can delay it: A mid-year increase of the minimum wage can raise the threshold.
In your client area: The case closes with the card delivered.

IFICI, if you qualify

Reside

What happens: IFICI registration is filed after your AIMA card is issued. It is sold separately.
Your part: Decide whether IFICI fits you.
Our part: We file it once the card is issued.
In your client area: A new case appears in your area.

03 · Documents

What to have ready

Documents for the D8 journey
Document	What it is for	Where to get it	Format	Typical status in your area	Translation or apostille
Passport data page	Identity for the NIF and the consulate file	Your passport	PDF, JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB	Missing, then Received and Checked	None listed
Proof of address from your country	NIF filing	Utility bill or bank statement dated within the last 3 months	PDF, JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB	Missing, then Received	None listed
Bank statements, 3 or more months	Show the income arriving	Your bank	PDF, JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB	Missing, then Received	Depends on your case
Employment contract or freelance contracts	Show the source of the income (3 or more active contracts is the practical bar for freelancers)	Your employer or clients	PDF, JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB	Missing, then Received or Needs a new file	Depends on your case
Recent tax returns	Back up the income (for example US 1040 or UK SA302)	Your tax authority or accountant	PDF, JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB	Missing, then Received	Depends on your case
Proof of savings	Savings of at least €11,040 at the time of application	Your bank	PDF, JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB	Missing, then Received	Depends on your case
Criminal record certificate	Required by the consulate	The authority in your country	PDF, JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB	Missing, then Received	Apostille required
Proof of accommodation and health insurance	Required by the consulate	Landlord or owner, and an insurer	PDF, JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB	Missing, then Received	Depends on your case
Power of attorney	Lets us file and represent you	Prepared by us, signed in the portal	Signed in the portal	Waiting for your signature, then Signed	Not applicable

04 · Costs

Who charges what

One flat fee. Official fees, third parties and IFICI are separate.

Reside fee

$1,490 flat: NIF and 1 year of fiscal representation, power of attorney, consulate dossier, bank account help with a partner bank, AIMA biometrics booking, 12 months of case management, family inclusion at no extra service fee, a briefing on IFICI
IFICI registration is $1,390, sold separately. D8 with IFICI together is $2,690. Start D8 with IFICI, $2,690

Government and official fees

Consulate visa fee, about €90 per applicant
AIMA residence card fee, about €85 per card
Apostille or consular legalisation in your country

Third parties

Certified translations of foreign documents
Portuguese health insurance, about €40 to €80 per month

05 · Timeline

How long it takes

Month 1NIF, fiscal representation, power of attorney
Weeks 1 to 5NIF and Portuguese bank account
Months 1 to 2Consulate dossier
Months 2 to 4Entry visa issued, valid 4 months
Months 4 to 8AIMA biometrics and the 2-year card

The authority sets the pace

4 to 8 months is the range the service page gives from kickoff. It is not a promise. The consulate and AIMA set the pace.

06 · After

What happens next

The card is valid for 2 years and renews for 3 more. After the card you may also take Portuguese employment.
File IFICI after your card is issued. IFICI is the tax incentive that replaced NHR: a 20% flat rate on Portuguese-source income from qualifying high-skill activities for up to 10 years.
After 5 years of legal residency you can apply for permanent residency. Citizenship is a separate, later step. Under the Nationality Law in force since 18 May 2026 the qualifying residency period is 10 years for most foreigners and 7 years for nationals of CPLP countries, counted from the date the residence card is issued.
Not sure the D8 is the right door? The D7 journey is for passive income.

07 · Risks

What goes wrong, and how to avoid it

The threshold can move. AIMA reassesses your income at the card appointment, using the minimum wage in force then.
Income from a Portuguese employer or Portuguese clients does not count. It must be foreign-sourced.
Freelancers with fewer than 3 active contracts are below the practical bar.
Savings below €11,040 at the time of application.
A criminal record certificate without apostille.

08 · Glossary

Words you will meet

D8: Portugal's residency visa for remote workers paid from outside Portugal.
IFICI: A tax incentive regime that replaced NHR, for qualifying high-skill activities.
AIMA: Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo, which takes biometrics and issues the card.
Apostille: A certificate that makes a public document valid abroad.
NIF: The 9-digit Portuguese taxpayer number.

Questions

About this journey

What income do I need for the D8?

4 times the national minimum wage: €3,680 a month in 2026 for the main applicant, from foreign sources.

How long does the D8 take?

4 to 8 months from kickoff. Weeks 1 to 5: NIF and Portuguese bank account. Months 1 to 2: consulate file. Months 2 to 4: visa issued. Months 4 to 8: AIMA biometrics and the card.

How is the D8 different from the D7?

The D8 is for active remote work income and has a higher threshold. The D7 is for passive income. Both give the same residency rights.

Does the D8 require a Portuguese employer?

No, and Portuguese employment income cannot be used to qualify. The income must be foreign-sourced.

What if the file is rejected because of an error on your side?

The fee is refundable on a filing error, as set out in the refund policy.

Go further

The service page and other doors

The service page has the full requirements and the price box: D8 digital nomad visa, $1,490.

Not sure about a step? Book a free 15-minute call

Open door 03

Ready when you are

Start with the first step and the rest follows the map above.

Start D8, $1,490